Capturing and preserving memories of your child

When you're a new parent, every time your baby reaches a new milestone it's a cause for celebration – and documentation. Try these simple tools and techniques for capturing moments and organizing memories you'll always treasure, from favorite photos to the sound of your child's laughter.

How to capture sights and sounds

As you watch your baby's first smiles, his first steps, and even his first grimace when tasting mashed peas, you'll want to remember those moments forever. Thanks to modern technology, you have more ways of capturing special memories than your parents ever dreamed of:

Smartphones. A smartphone may be the best way to capture photos and videos because it's handy. And if your photo isn't perfect, you can always upload it to your computer and tweak it with photo-editing software. When taking pictures with a smartphone, you'll get better results if you skip the zoom and simply move in closer, keeping your elbows tight against your body to help you hold still.

Digital cameras. With a digital camera, you can snap a photo and know immediately whether it's a keeper. If it's not, just hit delete - it won't cost you a cent. You'll appreciate how easy it is to share digital photos of your baby with family and friends around the world by emailing the pictures or posting them online. Plus, you can store hundreds – even thousands – of images on your computer, on discs, or on a backup drive in a fraction of the physical space print photos need.

Film cameras. Some people prefer a traditional film camera. With more settings and user control, you can get great shots regardless of lighting, distance, or the squirminess of your subject.

Disposable cameras. If you want a backup camera for the moments your digital camera has a full memory card or you don't have your phone camera, a disposable camera is another option. Tuck one into your diaper bag to make sure you never miss a photo op.

Video cameras. Many parents love video footage for its ability to capture many aspects of a moment: the faces, the voices, the setting, the mood. If you're in the market for a video camera, there are many options available to suit every budget.

If you're not sure you want to spring for a video camera, consider that many smartphones and digital cameras can also record video. And using a webcam is a cheap way to record both still and moving images that you can easily send or stream to your loved ones.

Voice recorders. It may seem quaint to record the sounds your baby makes. But if you don't have a video camera, a voice recorder is one easy way to permanently capture that adorable, squeaky little voice.

There's one out there to suit every family's needs - recorders range from the very inexpensive to the high-end, digital variety. You can record with your smartphone, too. If you switch on the recorder for a few minutes every few weeks or months, you'll end up with a wonderful sampling of your child's improving language skills, changing voice, and emerging personality.

Tip: Choose a day each month - say, the first Saturday - and make it your photo day. Take a snapshot of your baby or let your video camera roll for a few minutes. Later, you can put the month-by-month photos together in an album or compile the video footage to make an archive of your baby's first year.

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